Sarah Harrison – Parent Representative & NELPPF Secretary

My name is Sarah Harrison and I have two main reasons why I decided to get involved in Parent Participation. I am a mum to three gorgeous little girls; twins plus one, two years apart.

One of my twins was diagnosed with autism at 27 months old.
As is often the case, I was left feeling confused, isolated and had no idea what the future would hold or what support was available locally.

That is the first reason why I became involved in NELPPF – so that other parents do not feel lost, alone and without relevant information as I did.
I am also a former infant school teacher with extensive Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) experience; however I know that no matter how many courses teachers go on or what certificates the professionals may hold, there is no better training than living through it yourself.

I strongly believe that parents are the true experts of their children and that is the second reason I am involved – to ensure the voices of “parents as experts” are not underestimated or ignored.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responds to the announcement by the Department for Education of funding to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.